It was Danny's night for babysitting duty, and he grumbled about it to no end. His parents were out at some banquet or event, and Erin and Joe were out with dates.

He was sort of watching Jamie; seven years old was too old to watch like a Hawk. But Jamie did have a knack for getting into trouble. So Danny kept a lazy eye on him. Lucky for the babysitter, Jamie dutifully did his homework and was now quietly reading.

"When do you want to eat, kid? Mom said there are leftovers in the fridge."

"I don't know. Normal time?"

So he took out the leftover shepherds pie to let it get to room temperature for a little bit. He was deciding if anything should be on the side when the phone rang.

"Reagan," he answered, ignoring the proper protocol his Mom had taught him ten years ago.

"Danny? It's Linda-"

"Hey, Linda. What's up?"

"Um..." she fiddled with the phone chord, making it make little clack clack clack sounds against the nightstand. "Can I— never mind. It's silly."

"No, what is it?" He could tell by her voice something was wrong. He didn't really know what went on in that house- other than her parents were mostly absent- but surely they wouldn't... "What's wrong? You can tell me."

"Well... no one's home, everyone's out of town-"

"Even your grandma?"

"Yeah. So I'm home alone." She hated to be alone. She could feel her heartbeat picking up speed. Though, to be honest, she wasn't sure if that was from her fear or from asking Danny her question.

"And you'd like to come over," he guessed.

She sighed, "would you mind? I wouldn't interrupt anything, and I can—"

"Say no more; we'll come get you."

"We'll?"

"Linda!" Jamie smiled widely at her and hugged her tightly.

She laughed, "hey, Jamie."

"Do you have a bag?" Danny wanted to know.

"What? No. Other than my purse, I don't."

"Pack one."

"Why?"

"You're staying the night!" Jamie filled in. "On account of Danny saying it isn't right for you to be all alone. Plus, he wants to sleep with you."

Linda's eyes darted to Danny, who wasn't looking at her and blushing. "Um..."

"Jamie, remember how you and Mom talked about private conversations, and how they're less private in front of friends?" Danny asked him.

"But I have my friends sleep over all the time. What's wrong with you wanting to have Linda sleep over?"

"Uh, Jamie, since it's been decided I'm staying over, wanna help me pack a bag?" Linda stepped aside for Jamie to bounce into the house.

"Damn kid," Danny cursed, following after them.

Danny plopped Linda's bag in his room, then came back to the kitchen. "Have you eaten yet?"

She shook her head.

"We were just about to get started when you called. You like shepherds pie?"

"Oh, yes, it's one of my favorites."

"Good."

During dinner, Jamie mainly talked. Danny and Linda answered when appropriate, but they mainly looked at each other. They exchanged smiles and stolen glances all throughout the meal. She sat next to him, so he easily ran his hand against hers, rubbed his elbow with hers. Jamie didn't notice any of this.

Linda helped Danny clear and clean up, while Jamie went back to his book. The young couple didn't say much to each other as they did the dishes. As she dried her hands, Linda said, "thanks for coming to get me. I hate being alone like that."

"Do your parents do that often? Leave you alone like that."

"Yeah, but usually I go to Nonna's. She didn't know my folks would be out of town, otherwise she would've stayed."

"Well, anytime you're alone, come over here. I'm sure my parents would agree it isn't wise to leave you alone overnight like that."

She smiled as she blushed, pushing her hair behind her ear. She leaned closer to Danny and kissed him, sighing happily when he wrapped his arms around her and deepened the kiss. She was sure this was where she wanted to spend the rest of her life.

At 11:15, Mary and Frank arrived home. They knew Jamie is sleeping, so they don't call out to their eldest. He was more than likely still up, though.

Frank walked into the living room, searching for Mary, when he saw something that surprised him. He walked back to Mary, "Mary, there's—"

"Oh hey," Danny smiled at them as he appeared from the kitchen. "I was just locking up. Did you have fun?"

"Danny, what's a girl doing on the couch?"

"What?" Mary asked, looking from her husband to her son.

"Oh you mean Linda. Her parents weren't home, and they're not coming back til Sunday. She called and wanted to hang here for a while. I said it'd be okay if she stayed the night... Is it okay? She'd be in her house all alone."

Danny didn't wait for an answer as he sat on the couch. It was a smallish space where he body curved, and he had to force himself not to think those thoughts. "Linda?" He called out, remembering what she had told him earlier about being touched.

After calling her name a few times failed to work, he hesitantly shook her shoulder. She woke up after a few hard shakes— damn, she's a heavy sleeper, Danny thought— but immediately closed her eyes again.

"What're you doing in my bedroom, Danny?"

"Uh, no, Linda, this isn't your bedroom. This is my living room. Remember? You're staying the night."

"Oh, right." She wiggled, trying to snuggle deeper into the couch cushions.

"I'll get you some blankets," that was Frank's voice.

She sat up at that, almost bonking Danny's head. "Actually—"

He turned to look at her, and she literally shrunk back. She twisted her finger and looked down under his intense gaze.

Quietly, she finished, "can I stay with Danny?"

He was quick to add, "we're not going to do anything. Promise."

She nodded, "please?"

Mary and Frank looked skeptical, so Danny stood and walked away, motioning them to follow him; they did.

He kept his voice low, "look, I know you're hesitant, and I'd probably be too, but she needs familiarity. I won't even touch her unless she says I can."

"You're familiarity?" Frank raised a brow.

"Well, yes. Yeah, because we hang out all the time. Come on, Dad, please? You're letting her stay over, what's wrong with staying with me?"

"Danny—"

"I'll just go," Linda said from behind them. "Really, it's no big deal. I can be alone." No, I can't. Please tell me to stay. I can't be alone.

"Okay," Frank sighed, "you can stay here. But you better be respectful."

That was directed at Danny, but Linda swallowed thickly nonetheless and answered, "yes sir."

"Your parents don't want me here," Linda told Danny as they laid in bed together.

"Eh, screw 'em," his voice sounded from behind her. "They don't know your situation. Besides, it's not that they don't want you here in the house. They don't want you here, in my bed, because they think that—"

"We're going to have sex."

"Yeah."

She turned enough to look at him, "but you would never do that to me... would you?"

"No! No of course not! Look— I'm not even touching you cause you haven't said I can!"

Linda looks at him for a beat, "will you kiss me?" Her voice was quiet and a little husky.

"I will." Danny shifted, propping himself on his elbows, and kissed her sweetly. It made her head swim.

"Can you hold me?"

"I can," he shifted behind her again, and loosely wrapped an arm around her. He kissed the back of her head, "go to sleep now. We'll do some fun stuff tomorrow."

She smiled, burying her face into the pillow. She felt... she didn't know; right? Safe? Like she belonged there?

She could get used to this.